Scientific Name:                  Panicum virgatum

Common Name:                   switch grass (also known as Tall Panic grass)

Cultivars:                              There are 37 cultivars in this family, including: 'Cloud Nine', 'Dallas Blues', 'Heavy Metal', 'Northwind', 'Prairie Sky', 'Rehbraun', 'Rotstrahlbusch', 'Shenandoah', 'Strictum', 'Trailblazer' and 'Warrior'.

Hardiness:                             USDA Zones 5-9. Native perennial to all of the United States, except California and the Pacific Northwest. Readily available in Illinois. Best soils include moderate, somewhat dry to poorly drained, sandy to clay loam. Somewhat drought tolerant once established. Performs poorly in heavy soils.

Size:                                       3 to 6 feet tall

Habitat:                                  Sun, part shade; dry prairie, sandy woods. Wide branching flower clusters; yellow fall color; grows in clumping tufts. Distinguishable by a white patch of hair at the point where the leaf attaches to the stem. Stems are round and usually have a reddish tint. The seed head is an open, spreading panicle. Plants hold up well in heavy snow, providing good winter landscape interest.

Pests & Diseases:                 None known.

Landscape Value:                 Often planted in landscape gardens and wildflower meadows, marshes and lakeshores. Suitable as a low windbreak plant, switch grass is used to help stabilize soils and prevent erosion, particularly on slopes and sand dunes, near dikes and other critical areas.

Propagation:                          Spreads quickly with rhizomes (underground stems) that make new plant sections. May become weedy in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed.

Wildlife:                                Seeds provide food for Canada Geese, Mourning Dove, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Brown-headed Cowbird, Dark-eyed Junco, Meadow Vole, White-footed Mouse, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Mallard, Eastern Chipmunk and sparrows. Switch grass also provides excellent cover for birds and small animals. Many songbirds use its leaves and stems as nest materials. Geese, ducks, bobwhite and other birds build nests in clumps of this grass.

Photos:                                   On-site at Chicago Botanic Garden, cultivars include 'Cloud Nine', 'Dallas Blues', 'Heavy Metal', 'Northwind', 'Prairie Sky', 'Rehbraun', 'Rotstrahlbusch', 'Shenandoah', 'Strictum', 'Warrior'. Digital available.

Plant Expertise:                    Interviews available by calling news contacts above.

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden’s newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $15; free for members. On Tuesdays, senior citizens age 62 and older pay just $7 for parking. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

 The Chicago Botanic Garden is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. Through the Institutes of Plant Conservation and Ornamental Plant Research, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.